‘Cookin’ Nanta’ offers real dinner entertainment

A group of top chefs from South Korea have cooked up a theatrical delight, which is showing at the Sunshine Theater in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district this weekend.

“Cookin’ Nanta” is a cross between a lecture on cooking haute cuisine, a cooking competition and a musical filled with comedy, drama, action and even romance. In a fast-moving performance, the chefs chop, cut, beat and stir to prepare an entire wedding feast within 90-minutes. It’s all done to the rhythm of samulnori — traditional Korean percussion-quartet music — but musicians use knives, spoons and other kitchen utensils as their instruments. When it’s all over, the audience can join in the real feast and cook something up with the troupe.

Since its debut in 1997, “Cookin’ Nanta” has been a hit worldwid. If you miss it this time, it’ll be performed in other regions of Japan including Fukui, Osaka and Fukuoka, in February.

“Cookin’ Nanta” runs from Dec. 27 to Dec. 29 at the Sunshine Theater in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Times of shows vary depending on the day. Tickets cost ¥7,350 (Children aged 3 and under can watch for free if sitting on an adult’s lap). For reservations, call 0570-000-998. For more details, call 0570-003-337, or visit www.nanta.jp.